Favorable World Cup Draw for USA

FIFA held it’s 2010 World Cup Draw yesterday, placing the 32 qualifying teams in 8 groups that will play a round-robin format with the top two teams from each group advancing to the 2nd round. After the World Cup draw, the soccer media likes to anoint hardest of these groups “The Group of Death”. In 2006 USA found itself in the Group of Death. It lost its opener to the Czech Republic 3-0, fought for a gritty 1-1 tie against the eventual World Cup Champions in Italy, and then lost a controversial game to Ghana, eliminating them from competition.

This year’s group of death, Group G, consists of 5-time World Cup Champions Brazil, Africa’s hottest team in the Ivory Coast, Portugal, who finished 4th in the 2006 World Cup, and the always enigmatic North Koreans. You can read more about each of the 32 teams and their chances here.

Yesterday’s draw put USA in Group C where they still have their work cut out for them with an opening game on June 12 against England. The US will find itself in the familiar underdog role for this game. After that they face Slovenia and then Algeria.

Next year’s tournament will be held from June 11 – July 11 in South Africa.

Just outside Johannesburg is South Africa’s new Soccer City Stadium which will host several matches for next year’s World Cup. Photo by Denis Farell